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Herbs, annual. Stipules large, partly adnate with petiole, not spurred. Leaves paripinnate; leaflets opposite, subsessile. Inflorescences axillary, usually reduced to a solitary flower or a cluster of flowers. Hypanthium long. Calyx membranous; tube slender, elongating with flower development, 5-lobed, adaxial 4 lobes connate. Corolla yellow; standard almost orbicular, without an auricle; wings oblong, auriculate; keel apex slightly beaked. Stamens monadelphous, 10 but usually one absent; anthers dimorphic, long and short ones alternate, long ones almost dorsifixed, short ones basifixed. Ovary subsessile, base elongated and curved after fertilization, with 2 or 3(-6) ovules; style filiform; stigma terminal. Legume oblong, subtorulose, with thick walls, reticulated, 1-5(or 6)-seeded, not breaking into segments, indehiscent, apex not beaked.
Hypanthium slender, greatly elongate; cal distinctly bilabiate; cor yellow; standard much longer than the other pet; stamens 10, monadelphous; anthers alternately oblong and globose; fr developing underground, 2–3-seeded, turgid, indehiscent, slightly constricted between the seeds; perennial herbs with normally 4-foliolate, evenly pinnate lvs, large stipules adnate to the petiole, and small fls. 20+, S. Amer.
Fruit oblong or sausage-shaped, 1–6-seeded, somewhat constricted between the seeds but not articulated, continuous inside, functionally indehiscent, the walls thick and reticulate, developing below the soil, having been pushed beneath by the considerable lengthening, reflexing and stiffening of the gynophore.
Ovary subsessile, situated at the base of the receptacular tube, linear, (1)2–4(7)-ovuled; style filiform, very long, soon deciduous; stigma minute, terminal.
Leaves paripinnately 4-foliolate, rarely 3-foliolate; stipules partly adnate to the petiole, membranous, apiculate, persistent and veined; stipels absent.
Inflorescences axillary short dense sessile 2–7-flowered spikes; bracts membranous, the primary ones biapiculate; bracteoles absent.
Receptacle long and filiform, pedicel-like; calyx membranous, filiform, 5-lobed, the 4 upper lobes joined, the lower ± free.
Stamens 8–10, all joined; 4–5 anthers elongate and sub-basifixed, alternating with 4–5 short and versatile ones.
Flowers ± sessile, soon deciduous, small or medium-sized, yellow, sometimes striped with red.
Standard rounded, shortly narrowed at the base; wings free; keel beaked, incurved.
Seeds irregularly ovoid or oblong cotyledons thick and fleshy, rich in oil.
Annual or perennial erect or prostrate herbs.
